DAYEdalera

"I am very ambitious, my childhood dream is becoming a teacher...second to becoming a brilliant, professional and the most talk-about lawyer here in the Philippines."
(Hmmm..at least for being a lawyer as a first step...Yung ibang adjective in the making pa lang.hahaha.)


The waiting game is over. Yesterday, the Supreme Court announced that a total of 22.91% out of 5,626 lawyer wannabe's passed the 2007 Bar Examinations.



The list of bar passers INCLUDED ME. Yey!



God is great. He reaffirmed that 'Faith is the substance of the things hope for and the evidence of things unseen.' To God be the Glory! The Divine Mercy came to me. Thank you to my intercessors: Our Lady Virgin of Manaoag, Virgen del Rosario de Ubanon, Our Lady of Perpetual Help, Our Lady of Peace and Good Voyage, Our Lady of Mt. Carmel, St. Jude Thaddeus, St. Joseph, St. Augustine, Sta. Monica, St. Rita, St. Therese of the Child Jesus, St. Martin de Porres, San Antonio de Padua. St. Peter the Apostle. St. Lawrence Deacon and Martyr. (Hmmm..my passing was really of a Divine intervention.)



Congratulations as well to my new lawyer friends:

1. Atty. Doris Ramirez

2. Atty. Gladys Pinky Tolete

3. Atty. Christian George Melitante

4. Atty. Juan Solomon, Jr.

5. Atty. Eldric Paul Peredo

6. Atty. Joan Robles

7. Atty. Julan Ilao

8. Atty. Dennis Kuong

9. Atty. Tracy Gayosa

10. Atty. Monica Lopez

11. Atty. Amiel Songco

12. Atty. Castelo Fama

13. Atty. Cecille Africa

14. Atty. Abigail dela Rosa

14. Atty. Teodoro Lorenzo Fernandez

15. Atty. Levie Copahan

16. Atty. Nicoy Duque

17. Atty. Myra Jaud

18. Atty. Girlie Aserit

19. Atty. Adrienne Leagogo

20. Atty. Reywin Rico

21. Atty. Glenn Nuestro

22. Atty. Shierma Ocampo

23. Atty. Isagani Acosta

24. Atty. Candy Avance



Thank you very much to those who shared their support and prayers, showed their love in thousand ways..My FAMILY: Mom & Dad, I am proud of you both. Doc Extee. Doc Kaye. D'Tolentino's esp. Tita Sonia and Tito Emil. D' Castro's. Those who loves me to death: Gil. Kuya Jan. Mommy Gette and Kuya Jae. Kuya Tops and Nang. Rey. Nysa (the good news bearer). Bevy. Reych. Kcali. Jay and Donna. Mc Neil. Kabataang Liberal ng Pilipinas. KALIPI-Council of Ladies. My PUP students. PUP-CEFP Faculty. LCS Batchmates. Noisemakers. BestNilo. Atty. Bel.Atty. Delight. Ate Irish. Tita Dolly and Kuya Deng. SC Co-workers. OSG Girls. OCPLC Co-employees. Ate Angie and Ama Sarge Domingo. Those who inspired me to be my best: Justice and Mrs. Antonio Eduardo Nachura. Usec. and Mrs. Eleazar Quinto. Rep. Antonino Roman. Asec. Jonathan Malaya. Atty. Ilding Abancio. My Professors who touched my life like no other: PUP: Dr. Roman Dannug. Prof. Cresenciano Gatchalian. Prof. Sanjay Claudio. UST: Dean Aligada. Justice Agcaoili. Dean Ortega. Dean Dimayuga. Judge Cornejo. Justice Dimaampao. Faculty of Civil Law legal luminaries. My gratitude cannot really be expressed in words.

Labels: 2007 bar exam experience, bar exam, bar results, life

Labels: 2007 bar exam experience, bar exam percentage, bar exam rumors, bar results

Last Wednesday, after a lecture, I managed to corner the Boss on our way out from the AFP-HQ...

Daye: Justice, many of my classmates are already asking when will the 2007 Bar Exam Results will be released. May schedule na po ba?

The Boss: Ah..ah..wala pa din. (in his Waray accent) pero malabo na 'yung before holy week. Probably, last week of March or could be the first week of April.

Daye: (in my mind:Sana di na lang me nagtanong.Hayhay.)

Last Thursday, after the meeting of the Committee on Continuing Legal Education and Bar Matters (CLEBM)..

Gorgeous: Ate Daye, I've got news for you.
Daye: Ano po yun? bar matter? Waaahhhh! (in great panic)
Gorgeous: Napagusapan 'yung bar exam sa meeting...
Daye: then, so?
Gorgeous: Sabi po ni BC Layusa, "No Comment".

Early this morning, the Boss came and saw me...

The Boss: Ano na? (smiling)
Daye: (staring at him, waiting for the next words)

The Boss walked away towards the pantry...Back in my area in less than five (5) minutes....

The Boss: Ano na? (smiling, this question would mean Kamusta na? in Waray)
Daye: Justice, akala ko po may sasabihin kayo tungkol sa bar exam...(dumidiskarte ng chismis)
The Boss: Ay..wala namang balita eh..

At 3:00 PM, the Judicial Staff Head showed me a MEMO: BAR MATTERS...

What: Special En Banc Session
When: March 28, 2008
Time: 9:00 AM
Agenda: Bar Matters.

Suddenly like my Roomie, I wanted to be numb.
And I left the office not happily ever after.

Labels: 2007 bar exam experience, bar exam, bar results

I am obsessing again about the results of the bar exam.

Everyday at three p.m., I can’t help but stop working, go to google, search for articles, news, rumors about the fast approaching uncertain date of the release of the results. I am obsessing that this is the only way I can breathe out the pressure. As previously stated, I am a masochist. Many advices I have heard on how to deal with the agony of waiting, yet it seems nothing works in my case, a person with acute paranoia; severe doubt on herself; hyper distrust on my September performance and a swelling high expectations from the people around me. Don’t get me wrong I am not a total pessimist person, I already have surrendered my insufficiencies to God and allowed Him to do the rest for me.

I am obsessing as to what may come by end of March, will I have to move forward and start a career in the legal profession or Plan B is to take over?

I am obsessing that as of today, my life has been clogged and it seems it cannot flow as freely as my spirit wants to.

I am obsessing as the Boss is withholding information on bar matters, which caused me so much fear, nightly nightmares and severe anxiety.

I am obsessing of some good night sleep or a bucket of beer to at least find some sleep, of a lover or a friend who could relate with the astonishing fear I am experiencing, of a sudden escape that can help me avoid the questions of those who like me are becoming impatient of the release of the results.

I am obsessing of some peace of mind. Haay..Haay..

Labels: 2007 bar exam experience, bar exam, bar exam rumors, bar results

BAR EXAM
It can be defined as one experience you would not want to go through again. It is a one year “single activity plan”: study like crazy for six months reviewing before the test, and think about the results of the exam for the remaining six months. The exam, which for sometime determined the fate of Philippine presidency, when knowledge of law is a plus requirement to your bid of candidacy (Now, showbusiness/mass media is a better asset than the atty. title). Due to the nobility of the legal profession, this exam, which is a requisite of membership to the Integrated Bar of the Philippines defies everyone’s liberty to free association. No Attorney’s Roll Number; No IBP Membership.

****
The ultimate dream, I ever had is passing the same. :D
Keeping my faith. God bless all aspiring lawyers.
Release will be out according to rumors before holy week, if not last week of March 2008.

Labels: 2007 bar exam experience, bar exam, bar exam rumors, bar results, date of release, waiting for results of the bar

I hope this would be the last time that I will be terrorizing myself with waiting for the results of the bar exam..

I AM SO DESPERATE!

Can I simply disappear? (Yeah! kinda like the disappearing act Meridith did in Season 3 of Grey's)

How fool I am to beg my students to pray for me. (Nakukulitan na siguro si God.)

I have so much things to do, I can't focus.

I'm home alone. Alone and feeling nauseated and hyperventilating.

I want to go out, shout and soak myself in the rain. (Waaaahhhhhh!)

Should I go and attend mass alone? (Baka maiyak langme sa church.)

I NEED SOME PEACE OF MIND.

Labels: 2007 bar exam experience, bar exam, waiting for results of the bar

MASOCHISM: The term derives from the name of Chevalier Leopold von Sacher-Masoch, an Austrian who wrote extensively about the satisfaction he gained by being beaten and subjugated. The amount of pain involved can vary from ritual humiliation with little violence to severe masochism...A tendency to direct aggressive or destructive impulses against one's own ego in order to reduce the anxiety attendant on anticipated inevitable punishment from a formerly source of pain.

Rumors are 16% but somebody told me it could be as low as 10%. Haaaaaaaaaaayyyyyyyyy!



(Read the article in full.) http://attyatwork.com/bar-exams-passing-percentage/

Labels: 2007 bar exam experience, Masochism, waiting for results of the bar

“Patience is a virtue.” That is what Kuya Jan is telling me whenever I become impatient of waiting. But, waiting for the results of the bar exam is an extremely different scenario. This time I may call myself a masochist in prolonging my agony by wishing that the period which the examiners will be done correcting the papers will be extended.

After over two months of regaining myself after the trauma I have suffered in September (taking the bar exam), I may say that at the moment the festive holiday season, the workload, the drinking spree I had with friends, my trip in Indonesia, had set my mind free from worries for sometime and the nightmares occurs only like an aftershock of an earthquake, minimal yet still trembling.

Atty. Andrea, who suffered the same agony last year (Cheers! to my lady lawyer friend) was quite encouraging when she told me that “this will be your happiest Christmas season since you got yourself to law school. Just imagine you don’t have to worry about prelims, recitations and revalida after the Christmas break. What a relief di ba?” I wasn’t able to gather my pieces of courage to ask her if the BIGGER WORRY of waiting for the results would not affect the festive Christmas season?

Anyway, to those who are suffering the same agony, maybe a little dose of what I am doing to forget the worries may help you in some way:

1. BE BUSY. After a week of rest after the exam I immediately returned to the office even though the Boss was willing to extend my leave. I worked to death on my assignments (Caution: though the legal work was as stressful as reviewing for the bar.)

2. REINTEGRATE WITH YOUR LIFE BEFORE LAW SCHOOL. Make calls to your high school friends; remind them that it’s almost ten years since you graduated and maybe its time to have the HS class reunion. Do the text brigade; forward all your inbox sms from jokes to sentimental quotes. Visit college hangouts and you will be surprised that your block mates are still hanging out with each other once in a while except those who chose to enter law school. Be active with your organization; I’m sure you have neglected org work for recits, exam, recits, and exam again. (Caution: you need to prepare a standard answer to those who will ask you: “How’s the bar?” In my case it is an alternate of the following: “I was able to answer the questions, I just don’t know if my answers were right.” or “the Bar exam is difficult, let’s keep praying.” or “I am hopeful.” or “With God’s help, I can make it.” or “Bar? as in Tia Maria’s or Embassy?” Note: Of course you can innovate.)

3. PRAYERS. You will practice your faith which you barely did when you were so busy in school. Novena. Sunday Mass. Wednesday Mass (Baclaran), Thursday Mass (St. Jude), First Saturday (Virgin Mary). Probably, you will even do the Visita Iglesia only this time months earlier than the Holy Week. Praying is helpful, it gives you peace of mind. Anyway, it is only in God’s time that you will be able to become a lawyer. Many suggested the Prayer of Serenity.

“Lord, grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things that I can and the wisdom to know the difference.”

4. AVOID DEMENTORS. Don’t visit the Supreme court website to download the bar questions and try to answer it again with your notes open; that wouldn’t change the answers in your booklets. Be modest about the fact that you took the bar exam or else that would invite a multiplying number of dementors who will ask you “when will the results be released?” or “saan blowout?” and similar annoying questions.

5. READ AN INSPIRATIONAL BOOK. In my case, I tried reading “The Purpose-Driven Life”. Also, an astrology book will help you accept the fact that if is not yet written in the stars it wouldn’t happen. (Note: You may read alternative books that would not remind you of the agony: Novels, Comic books, Magazines, etc.)

6. CELEBRATE LIFE. There will be lots of occasion after September and the holidays will be helpful. All Saints Day, Bonifacio Day, Christmas, New Year and Valentine’s Day, celebrate each of them with your loved ones. (Caution: this might cost you a lot of money.)

7. FIND A LOVE LIFE. Hmmmm, if you have one, you might have the most neglected relationship on earth; so be the girlfriend or boyfriend that you weren’t when you were still busy cuddling your books and dating with your cases. If you are single, it’s now time to get a make-over by removing your eyeglasses and getting some haircut and putting a little make-up, go to the bars and find someone! (Caution: according to Nysa, bars are a place where everyone looks good in the dark.) or find some involvement if you are not ready to commit: walang relasyon pero masaya. For married persons, think of having a baby, that would be your lucky charm.

8. TRAVEL. Go out of town. If you have the budget or some sponsorship, out of the country. If your pockets will not permit, go to malls, volunteer to do the errands of the household among those are going to the supermarket or paying the utility bills. It will somehow help you lose sight of law books which you carefully arranged in the shelf at home.

9. HEALTHY LIVING. It’s now the perfect time to reduce your coffee intake. Indulge in the gym, swim or get into sports. Avoid chocolates and chips but go for yogurt or veggies. (I’m sure barristers gained weight during the review, so it’s time to get lean and put your curves in the right places…Ooops! I’m guilty of not practicing what I preach.)

10. LOOK FORWARD. In the six months, learn how to deal with what are the possibilities of tomorrow. It would be hard to accommodate negative thoughts but it is practical to accept what might be the next step whatever may be the result. Prepare a dream chart, plan A, plan B or plan C. It would be easier to explore options whether the result would be positive or negative. Life does not end after the bar exam. In fact, the release of the results will just be the beginning, another saga.

Really, the agony will not be over until the results are released. In fact, the approaching months will be more difficult. But dwelling with unfounded fears won’t help instead it will exacerbate what we are going through.

Have a blessed Christmas to the aspiring lawyers of 2008. Let’s keep our fingers cross and hope for the best.

Labels: 2007 bar exam experience, bar results, waiting for results

I started having nightmares about the bar exam after my disastrous exam in Taxation. Probably I was thinking too much that I might have a disualifying grade on that subject.The nightmare goes like:

I am at the Supreme Court (our office:OAJNachura), the Boss entered his chambers and called me. I am shaking because I know the en banc deliberated on the bar exam results earlier that moring. I approached the Boss humbly and asked him "Justice, how many of the 6,000+ examinees passed?". He never answered my question. He told me to approach the Bar Confidant (a fellow townmate of the Boss from Catbalogan, Samar) and get the result of my exam.

I ran down through the stairs near the elevator and proceeded to the Office of the Bar Confidant (OBC), I saw the BC and introduced myself. She gave me a payslip like paper and I saw clearly the result of my exam. Political Law : 78, Labor Law: 82, Civil Law : 79, Taxation : 59. I immediately transferred eyes on the remarks column and it stated there "DISQUALIFIED". I went outside the OBC and met few law school friends smoking. I told them the result of my tax and...I woke up.

The second nightmare came a week after the bar exam:

I am at the examination room, together with the 2k7 bar examinees, the headproctor is Atty. I, our chief of staff. Ironic because I know her but she doesn't recognized that we both came from OAJN. BE's will be taking a second Remedial law exam. Surprising because the examination questions was the very same we took in the first REM exam. The headproctor distributed two sets of booklets. The first is where we will write down our answers and the second set was the corrected first REM exam. I notice my grade: It was 90 (Hopefully, I can really get this much in reality!). One of the BE's asked the headproctor why we are taking the same exam, Atty. I answered: "J.C. (the suspected examiner) wanted to know if you already have learned from your mistakes in the first exam). I opened my first Rem exam booklet and I saw a marginal note: your mistake is Mandamus, it will lie for violation of the rt. to speedy trial. I am surprised, the examiner deducted 10% for that mistake and gave me full credit for all my correct answers which is 90%.

There were beds at the corner of the examination room. I am so tired that when I saw my friend Glad, I sat beside her then we talked about our mistakes in the first rem exam. Atty. I called our attention and... I woke up, it's already 5:30 a.m. time to wake up for my office comeback!

The third nightmare was last night. It goes like:

I walk through the dark alley of the SC's skywalk to proceed to the grounds of the SC New Building. It was the BIG DAY: Bar Results are posted in the board at the grounds. I saw the GT cheering up for those who passed. I checked the postings on the last board near the SC's gate. I am expecting my name there because my surname started with among the latest letters from the alphabet. I saw TOLENTINO, many of them but after Tolentino, Bianca the next was Tolentino, Su. I cried secretly near the SC's guardhouse and my Dad tapped my back and...I woke up.

The morning pressures from the Dementors everywhere, I am trying to manage. It is an everyday struggle I hope I can handle until April. But, since the nightmares are recurring...I have decided to sleep less. :(

Now tell me... Am I entitled to MORAL DAMAGES for mental anguish, sleepless nights, moral anxiety caused by the bar exams?

Haaaay.

Labels: 2007 bar exam experience, moral damages, nightmares

2 araw na lang hindi pa rin ako desidido. Paano ba naman August 25 ko lang natapos basahin ang coverage. Lahat FIRST READING. Pilosopo ako kaya ang sabi ko.. "Sa simbahan nga hanggang Second Reading lang eh..hihigitan ko pa ba yun?"

August 31, nagtataka ako..bakit hindi ako kinakabahan? Dapat sa mga oras na yun tensyonado na ako. 2 araw na lang, shutdown ang utak ko, di na makapagbasa at mas inuna ko pa manood ng game ka na ba?... Yan ang sitwasyon bago ko tawagan ng mga Dementors.. Unti-unti bumaba ang confidence ko. Umiyak ako maghapon.

September na! Aga ko sa UST, 8am sharp. Di na ako nagpaalam sa mga kasambahay kc ayaw kong maging emotional pag nag-gudluck sila..

SEND-OFF: I attended the mass. Akalain mo nahatak pa ako magpray ng offertory prayers. I was at peace during the mass pero nung send-off ceremony na, kasabay ng malalakas na tambol at hiyawan ng mga estudyante, KINABOG and dibdib ko. Handa na ba ako? Salamat na lang sa mga kaibigan na nagpunta sa hotel para magpalakas ng loob.

FIRST SUNDAY: Political Law/Labor Law

Di ako kinakabahan pagpasok ko ng DLSU. Political Law ang unang exam sa paniniwala ko hindi posible na mabokya ako dito. Nagulat lang ako, kung bakit di current events ang issue sa mga tanong. Handa pa naman ako sa Poli law updates. Sa palagay ko nakasagot naman ako ng maayos 'yun nga lang palya yata yung sentence construction ko. Naexcite kasi ako eh!

Sa Labor law, unang tanong pa lang gusto ko na isoli yung booklet at test question. Number 1 question: What is the Principle of Codetermination and it's Constitutional basis. What?! Sa limang taon ko sa law skul ngayon ko lang 'yun narinig. Nilakasan ko ang loob ko at nanghula ng sagot sabay wish na sana pag nakita ng examiner ang answer ko sa Q1 hindi nya ako i-DQ.

Generally, my first Sunday is ok. On the second thought, pwede pa ako bumawi sa 3 linggo pang susunod.

SECOND SUNDAY: Civil Law and Taxation

Ngayon siningil na ako ng kaba. Paano ba naman, magkapares ang subjects na sa palagay ko pinakamahina ako. Saka idagdag na rin na sa sobrang takot ko sa Tax, apat na araw ko yun binasa, ang Civil law, 1 araw lang. Gabayan sana ako ni Dean A at Justice D habang exam. Di ako komportableng pumasok sa War room. Sa Civil law ang panindak "trust de son tort" pero higit akong nasindak na 1 lang ang tanong sa Family Code, true or false pa. Saka nga pala nadisorient ako, Mercantile na ba? Bakit may insolvency?.

Tax! Grr! Akala ko pa naman handa ako..hindi pala. Pinilit ko sagutan lahat. At least mabigyan man lang ng grade ang effort. Panalangin ko sana di ako ma-DQ. Hindi ko mapilit ang utak ko alalahanin ang tax implications and incidence ng life insurance proceeds at return of premiums. Lintek! parang di ako nagMasters ng Tax kc di ko pa naalala ang period of payment and extension ng Estate tax. Hmppp! Tax is really burdensome.

Ergo, my second sunday is a disaster.

THIRD SUNDAY: Mercantile Law and Criminal Law

Exhausted na ako. Sabik na magpahinga. Yung paghahanda ko para sa third sunday pang prelims lang yata. Sa isip ko, sa dalawang nakalipas na linggo, hindi naman ako sinagip ng mga pinag-aralan ko. Sabi ng mga teachers namin pag may tanong daw automatic "It's all coming back to me now". Totoo kaya ito?

Sa Mercantile law, natapos ko ang mga dapat basahin pero wala ng pagkakataon balikan sa pre-week. Super haba ng coverage at super dami ng Special laws. Hate ko pa naman ang business transactions at negotiable instruments. So sapalaran na kung may maalala ako. Natapos ko naman pero parang hindi swak yung mga sagot ko. Hay!

Criminal law, confident ako. Makatlong beses ko yata nabasa ang GT Crim Notes ni Dean O. at lahat ng lectures ay napuntahan ko. Pero gaya ng sabi ng isang kaibigan dapat daw isuko na ang Crim exam..paano malabo ka makakuha ng mataas na grade dito..Unless, you have a criminal mind. Siyempre dun ako kabilang sa general rule: walang criminal mind, palpak sa criminal law.

My third sunday, Devastating.

FOURTH SUNDAY: Remedial Law and Legal Ethics and Practical Exercises

Wednesday na ako nakapagsimulang mag-aral. Depressed talaga ko sa performance ko ng third sunday. Ayaw ko makipag-usap sa mga dementors, pinagtaguan ko sila lahat.

Remedial law, masaya ako kasi pareho kame ng sagot ni CGM (reliable na student). Unang tanong execution ng foreign judgment, arbitral awards at global injunction...Panindak yun. Mandamus sa violation ng speedy trial right of the accused...Nakakaconfused yun. Isa lang ang siguradong sigurado ako yung Revival of Judgment.. Pero ok lang, at least di ko nafeel na super tanga ko sa procedure.

Legal Ethics, parang katabi ko si Judge A. binubulong yung sagot. Hahaha! pwede ko ba i-claim na ethical ako kaya nadalian ako sa exam na to? Yung mga legal forms na pinaprepare, ok lang pero sayang naman yung kinabisado kong VTPOSJ / TAP-CAP-SA/ TAP-WAC-SA at CAP-TIBRA-PLUS codes para sa mga business forms at judicial pleadings. Anyway, super thanks na din kay Atty. A dahil mas napadali yung pagmemorize ko ng parts of every form.

Last sunday, ok naman. Pero palagay ko hindi kayang bawiin yung mga katangahan ko nung unang mga linggo.

*****

Allow me to recollect thoughts of what traspired after the last exam.'til then.

Labels: 2007 bar exam experience